The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jan. 20, 2004

Filed:

Nov. 15, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:

Christophe Pierrat, Santa Clara, CA (US);

Michel Luc Côté, San Jose, CA (US);

Assignee:

Numerical Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 1/750 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 1/750 ;
Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for fully defining static random access memory (SRAM) using phase shifting layouts are described. The approach includes identifying that a layout includes SRAM cells and defining phase shifting regions in a mask description to fully define the SRAM cells. The phase conflicts between adjacent phase shifters are resolved by selecting cutting patterns designed for the SRAM shape and functional structure. Additionally, the transistor gates of the SRAM cells can be reduced in size relative to the original SRAM layout design. Thus, an SRAM cell can be lithographically printed with small, consistent critical dimensions including extremely small gate lengths resulting in higher yields and improved performance.


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